Anyone who has ever been around an urban school district knows that, even on the best days, two steps forward on one front can be quickly eclipsed by three steps back elsewhere. That's simply the reality of the work Dallas ISD faces as it continues to try to turn around the district and close achievement gaps.

But the challenges that still face DISD shouldn't obscure recent examples of solid progress.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced Thursday that the district expects to see another dramatic decrease in the number of "improvement required" schools — from 13 this past year to three. Just five years ago, 43 DISD schools were on the state's failing list.

In a district in which 90 percent of students are poor and carry many challenges with them into the classroom each day, the reduction of failing schools is nothing short of astounding.

The school-by-school improvements are evidence that hard-fought reforms — namely the Accelerating Campus Excellence plan, which teams the best teachers with students who need them most — are paying off in a big way.

The progress on improvement required campuses follows recent good news about across-the-board growth in STAAR testing.

But continuing the effective initiatives that produces these results takes money, and state lawmakers have been slow to send financial help. To make matters worse, DISD will become a "recapture" district for the first time this school year and have to send millions back to the state.

All of that is why we support a tax ratification election to allow voters to decide if they want to pitch in more dollars to help the district. Trustees have twice rejected the TRE, which requires a supermajority of the board.

That brings us to another reason for our increased optimism around DISD: the refreshing election of new board member Justin Henry. He supports the TRE and is likely to clear a logjam on the school board to finally get it on the ballot in November. If approved by voters, it would raise the district's tax rate by 13 cents and bring in an additional $116 million.

There's much riding on voter approval. Trustees just approved a $1.862 billion budget that includes $32.3 million in teacher and support staff raises — increases that are contingent on the TRE's passage.

It was a bold move by Hinojosa to gamble that not only will trustees agree to call the election but that voters will approve it.

While we appreciate Hinojosa's attempt to build pressure for the tax ratification election, he and his staff better have a workable Plan B in the event the TRE doesn't become a reality. Sadly, that'll likely mean deeper cuts in programs.

DISD has taken many steps forward this year. It's now up to trustees — and, most likely, voters — to guard against falling back.